Equal Rights Commission announces Municipality Equality Index score, International Human Rights Day celebration

The City of Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission (ERC) announced today that the City received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipality Equality Index (MEI). The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality. 2020 marks the third straight year that Milwaukee has received a perfect score.

Common Council President Cavalier Johnson is elated by today’s news. “The City of Milwaukee embraces diversity, and it is a great honor for Milwaukee to be recognized with a perfect score by the Municipality Equality Index,” said President Johnson. “I want to thank the Equal Rights Commission for their continued work in our city, as well as the Human Rights Campaign for the work they do locally and nationally in the name of uplifting underserved communities.”

“I’m proud to have sponsored legislation in recent years such as the ban on conversion therapy, and the establishment of a gender-inclusive restroom policy for City buildings to help move us forward, but there is still more work to be done. In particular, we must continue to work toward our goals on racial equity and inclusion so that Milwaukee can be a city where everyone can prosper, and I’m committed to doing just that,” President Johnson continued.

Additionally, in recognition of International Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 12^th the ERC will be hosting a virtual celebration in partnership with the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee.

This year’s event will include a panel discussion on the topics of COVID-19 and health disparities, racial inequities, immigration and essential workers, and systemic racism.

President Johnson is encouraging residents to join the event and take part in this important discussion. “This year the Black Lives Matter movement, COVID-19 and other circumstances have placed human rights issues at the forefront in a meaningful way,” said President Johnson. “I encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to participate in an important dialogue that can help provide a useful perspective and push these conversations forward.”

The event will take place on December 12^th from 10:30 a.m. to noon and can be viewed by registering on Zoom at bit.ly/MIHRday or tuning in on the Equal Rights Commission Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ERCMKE. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Robert Smith, the Harry G. John Professor of History and the Director of the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach at Marquette University. Panelists include: Dr. M Riccardo Colella, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics and Health Equity at the Medical College of Wisconsin and EMS Medical Director for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; Reggie Jackson, Senior Columnist for the Milwaukee Independent News Magazine; Jamil Dakwar, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Human Rights Program; and Sindy Benavides, Chief Executive Officer for the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Captioning and on-screen American Sign Language interpreting will be provided. For additional accommodations please contact ADACoordinator@milwaukee.gov.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.